The Asian Studies Parade reflects a lifetime of commitment to the field by Paul van der Velde, a leading Asian studies innovator, scholar, and publisher. The first chapters examine aspects of the... Show moreThe Asian Studies Parade reflects a lifetime of commitment to the field by Paul van der Velde, a leading Asian studies innovator, scholar, and publisher. The first chapters examine aspects of the Dutch colonial presence in Asia and its intellectual support system in the Netherlands. The author's engagement with historical biography emerges in studies of such contrasting figures as Japanese interpreter Imamura Gen’emon Eisei, pioneering anthropologist P.J. Veth, and anti-colonialist Jacob Haafner. Van der Velde then continues to describe the development of Asia-Europe links at the end of the 20th century and the emergence of the ‘New Asia Scholar’ in the 21st century. This unique work will interest anyone concerned with wider issues in Asian studies. Show less
With the Constitutional Revolution of 1906, Iran experienced a monumental shift from rule by absolute monarchy to governance based on a constitution. The effects of this revolution were felt not... Show moreWith the Constitutional Revolution of 1906, Iran experienced a monumental shift from rule by absolute monarchy to governance based on a constitution. The effects of this revolution were felt not only on a national level but also globally; internationally, even influencing political relationships between some of the European great powers. Revolutions are born out of theories and ideas; the study of key figures who propagated those ideas is an essential part of historiographical research.The theoretical foundation of the Constitutional Revolution of 1906 gradually developed out of an emerging discourse which reflected the changes Iran was undergoing due to increased contact with the outside world on a scale which had never been experienced before. Having begun with colonialist developments in the seventeenth century, the eighteenth century witnessed a gradual deepening of the threat to the Islamic states by European powers. As contact with the world outside the Islamic states’ territory began to be considered increasingly necessary, Islamic countries were forced to seek a solution to prevent the dominating power of Europe. New technologies gave nations the upper hand and those who lagged behind in terms of scientific and technological development were at a distinct disadvantage. These less developed countries had first to try to understand the developments before they could tackle how to stop the spread of this new threat; the threat from this new kind of power was not based on religious ideology but rather its strength originated from science. It took some time for countries such as Iran to be able to make distinctions between power derived from scientific developments and the power of religion, to accept that development was open to all peoples regardless of their religion, nationality or race. Development towards modernity was equated with European/Western science which was considered at odds with Islamic or non-European identity. This led to discord and the clergy who had been in charge of shaping their followers’ beliefs naturally had to declare their position in response to these changes. Some clergy took reactionary positions; others were more convinced that new changes were necessary for the survival of Islam in the Islamic countries whose population was predominantly Muslim. But it was not only the clergy but also politicians, writers and intellectuals among others who began to express their thoughts and ideas about what should be done in relationship to these changes. Seyyed Hassan Taqizadeh was one such man.Taqizadeh was one of the key Iranian intellectuals who played a significant role in developing and shaping the discourse of change in Iran. As such, the aim of this research has been to provide a deep and nuanced assessment of the life and career of Taqizadeh and how that helped to influence and direct the movement towards change. Taqizadeh was not the only intellectual who was engaged in the discourse of modernity or as it has been referred to in the Iranian context, “Tajaddod”. What gives Taqizadeh particular prominence, however, is the fact that, unlike others, he remained constantly on the scene, and despite many obstacles, rarely veered from his goal of steering Iran along the path towards modernity. This research uses Taqizadeh’s biography as a mirror to reflect the discourse of change in Iran and analyses his role and relationship to that discourse of change. Taqizadeh lived a long life; 91 years. His lifetime (1878-1970) connects to a long and significant period in contemporary Iranian intellectual history; he witnessed the reign of six Shahs; four of whom he had close dealings with. During Taqizadeh’s life important changes took place in Iran and throughout the wider world, including two world wars.Taqizadeh was a politician and intellectual who has left behind many works relating to history, culture and literature. Enough of his writings and records of his thoughts remain to allow his ideas and deeds to have become a living legacy for Iranian intelligentsia. In a country still largely divided over how best it should be run, Taqizadeh’s ideas have become part of the discourse of a desire to modernise the country. Taqizadeh has not always been objectively written about and there is much polemic based around his place in Iranian historiography. Some support Taqizadeh’s ideas and thoughts; for others who scorn western democracy, his ideas have been used, in contrast, to exemplify an approach which ultimately failed. For those who favour political Islam, Taqizadeh is still considered an evil representative of the corrupt West and for the more radical even an agent of the West, whose aim was to ensure the surrender of Iran to the hostile non-Islamic West.Maybe because of the controversy around him and his deeds, although there exist numerous articles and monographs based on Taqizadeh’s life, there is a paucity of published research that focuses on and highlights the importance of his life and work in the formation of a national Iranian identity and his crucial role in the narration of modernity in the Iranian context. This research endeavours to focus on details of and influences on Taqizadeh’s life that may have been previously overlooked and provide an objective and nuanced record of the legacy he has left on Iran and the journey towards modernity in that nation.This study of Taqizadeh’s life and thoughts may also go some way towards facilitating a better understanding of contemporary Iran. After experiencing two revolutions in one century, the Iran of today is overshadowed by an overriding feeling of disquiet and uncertainty about the future. Scholars and indeed some of the general public are searching for reasons that might account for and explain the current situation that the country finds itself in, particularly following the 1979 Revolution. Much discourse revolves around how the country should or should not be ruled and the best routes for its continued development; studying Taqizadeh’s life and career may help to provide some answers. Show less
The German journalist, writer and politician Bodo Uhse (1904 – 1963) would have completely disappeared in the mist of history, had not his one decision - to leave Hitlers NSDAP and to join the KPD... Show moreThe German journalist, writer and politician Bodo Uhse (1904 – 1963) would have completely disappeared in the mist of history, had not his one decision - to leave Hitlers NSDAP and to join the KPD in 1931 – saved him from oblivion. His determined and apparently spectacular step, did provide him, from the very moment he returned to East Germany in 1948, with a prosperous career and a reputation of being one of the more heroic antifascists in the country. This study – formally a biography - describes the development of Uhses political stance, from about 1921 till the moment he left the NSDAP and became a member of the KPD, and tries to shed a fresh light on why he made his move in the first place, why the despised communist party suddenly ended up as a welcome home for his political ideas. A clarification of the “Konservative Revolution”, a generic term for a number of right wing groups propagating similar ideas on how German society should be changed, and an analysis of the change of direction set in by the KPD in 1930, by issuing a manifesto, introducing a national and social agenda into her program helps us to understand Uhses ‘switch’, and, similarly, putting it in perspective. Show less
This volume investigates the development of biographical study in African history and historiography. Consisting of 10 case studies, it is preceded by an introductory prologue, which deals with the... Show moreThis volume investigates the development of biographical study in African history and historiography. Consisting of 10 case studies, it is preceded by an introductory prologue, which deals with the relationship between historiography and different forms of biographical study in the context of Western history-writing but especially African (historical and anthropological) studies. The first three case studies deal with the methodological insights of biographical studies for African history. This is followed by three case studies dealing with personas living through fundamental societal transitions, and four case studies focusing on the discursive dimensions of biographical subjects (including religion, cosmology and ideology). Countries or regions discussed include South Africa, Zambia, Gold Coast, Cameroon, Tanganyika, Congo-Kinshasa and the Central African Republic in colonial times. Show less
This work presents a political biography of nineteenth century lawyer and statesman Dirk Donker Curtius. Donker advocated freedom of religion, speech and press through lawsuits, brochures and... Show moreThis work presents a political biography of nineteenth century lawyer and statesman Dirk Donker Curtius. Donker advocated freedom of religion, speech and press through lawsuits, brochures and articles and found himself at the centre of power amidst the 1848 political and societal developments. This dissertation reveals that Donker had a larger role than assumed in the Dutch liberal discourse in development of the liberal movement prior to 1848 and practical implementation of reformist ideas thereafter. Specifically, this study of Donker’s career argues that through his skilful and pragmatic service as Minister of Justice in the first years after the creation of the 1848 liberal constitution, he played a pivotal role in its consolidation and perpetuation. Show less
One of the tasks of the Royal Netherlands Navy in Tydeman's lifetime was the hydrographic survey of the seas at home and in the colonial waters. The hydrographic expertise of naval officers could... Show moreOne of the tasks of the Royal Netherlands Navy in Tydeman's lifetime was the hydrographic survey of the seas at home and in the colonial waters. The hydrographic expertise of naval officers could also be applied to other endeavours like scientific expeditions.In the second half of the nineteenth century private scientific societies took the initiative to engage in maritime research. Contact between scientists and the Navy resulted in naval assintance in scientific research. The Navy took part in polar expeditions and in scientific explorations in the tropics. As a junior officer Gustaaf Tydeman was involved in hydrographic surveij in the East Indies and in Dutch coastal waters. Tydeman was commanding officer of H. Neth. MS Siboga during the oceanographic expedition in the East Indian Archipelago in 1899-1900. He continued his years in the Navy as commanding officer of the Royal Naval College, of large ships and of a squadron of ships in teh East Indies. He was promoted to flagofficer in his command of the Naval establishment in Amsterdam. His achievements as hydrographer and commanding officer of a ship on a scientific expedition and author of several publications made his naval career exceptional. Show less
'The scar of death. The biography of Jan Wolkers' contains the rebellious life story of Jan Wolkers (1925-2007), one of the most famous, loved ánd controversial writers and artists (also a... Show more'The scar of death. The biography of Jan Wolkers' contains the rebellious life story of Jan Wolkers (1925-2007), one of the most famous, loved ánd controversial writers and artists (also a painter and sculptor) of the Low Countries. Wolkers was obsessed with love and death, also the two most important themes of his work. No one stayed closer to the truth than I, stated Wolkers. His work and art' the biographer concludes, 'are one.' Show less
Voor ’t gewone leven ongeschikt. A biography of Clare Lennart, is a literary and historical biography of author Clare Lennart (Clara Helena van den Boogaard-Klaver, 1889-1972). Her work contains... Show moreVoor ’t gewone leven ongeschikt. A biography of Clare Lennart, is a literary and historical biography of author Clare Lennart (Clara Helena van den Boogaard-Klaver, 1889-1972). Her work contains many recognisably autobiographical elements, especially from her youth. An extensive overview of the life of this 'forgotten author' is the basis for this critical and interpretive biography. In addition it shows Clare Lennart's unique position in her time, the unusual choices she made and ‘the roads not taken’ in her life. The main focus of the research is the question of how Clare Lennart gained an economic position as a woman of letter. A second question focuses on the concepts of posture and self-fashioning. The thesis demonstrates that Clare Lennart was aware of her image as a 'poetic nature lover' and that she openly presented herself as a hack writer. Clare Lennart's poetic style nowadays seems more dated than the sober language used by contemporary authors. Nevertheless, she had a large audience between 1945 and 1972 and the reception was nearly always positive. The biography discusses the contemporary reception of her work in detail and why Clare Lennart's work is omitted from the Dutch canon, using the concept of ‘middle-brow’ literature. Show less
What is it like to be imprisoned, to spend months or even years in solitary confinement? Apart from the answers that psychology, criminology of philosophy may hold, the biographical-historical... Show moreWhat is it like to be imprisoned, to spend months or even years in solitary confinement? Apart from the answers that psychology, criminology of philosophy may hold, the biographical-historical study The Hour of Truth. On Imprisonment as a Literary Experience looks at what answers literature has to offer to this question. Concentrating on the period roughly between the French Revolution up to and including the Second World War, this book mainly concerns itself with three European writers who have written about their own prison experiences: Silvio Pellico, Oscar Wilde and Albrecht Haushofer. How did those extreme experiences shape and influence the descriptions of their prison life? What does one write about in the ‘the hour of truth’, when life has been reduced to four walls and a barred window, and when all that remains of one’s authorship is a scrap of paper and a pencil? Do these three writers succeed in adequately conveying this ultimate experience to the reader? In a comparative analysis of three examples of imaginative literature (by Stendhal, Charles Dickens and the Dutch poet Jan Campert) Maarten Asscher suggests that the extreme truth of prison experience is better served by literary imagination than by autobiographical testimony. Show less
Het boek is een biografie van Karl Abraham (1877-1925), de eerste psychoanalyticus van Duitsland, waar hij de psychoanalyse tot grote bloei heeft gebracht. Zijn klinisch-theoretische bijdragen... Show moreHet boek is een biografie van Karl Abraham (1877-1925), de eerste psychoanalyticus van Duitsland, waar hij de psychoanalyse tot grote bloei heeft gebracht. Zijn klinisch-theoretische bijdragen werden al snel klassiekers die veel invloed hebben gehad op de psychoanalytische theorievorming. Hij was de eerste die een psychoanalytische theorie over depressie ontwierp, enkele jaren voor Freuds 'Trauer und Melancholie' zou verschijnen. Abraham was de laatste jaren van zijn leven na Freud de belangrijkste analyticus van de psychoanalytische beweging, voorzitter van de IPA - International Psychoanalytic Association, voorzitter van de Berlijnse psychoanalytische vereniging en lid van het geheime comit_. Hij is betrokken geweest bij een aantal grote conflicten die zich in de beginjaren van de psychoanalyse hebben afgespeeld, waarbij postuum de schuld nogal eens naar hem is geschoven. Zo kon het gebeuren dat Abraham, tijdens zijn leven zo gewaardeerd, na zijn dood regelmatig werd verguisd. Show less
This thesis is about the gentleman-lawyer Falck, his period in office as Governor of Ceylon from the age of 28 and his surroundings. The historian Stapel described him as the last great figure in... Show moreThis thesis is about the gentleman-lawyer Falck, his period in office as Governor of Ceylon from the age of 28 and his surroundings. The historian Stapel described him as the last great figure in the Company. He differentiated from his contemporaries and predecessors. The research pays extensive attention to his networks, new insight into the relations between the qualified servants of the Company in Asia and the State. Falcks'administrative vision amd political strategy was directed at keeping the British and French at safe distance in South India. Therefore a balance had to be maintained between the various parties over there. His ideas were at odds with the strictly neutral policy of the Republic and Batavia. Thanks to the support of Mysore and the French fleet, the security of Ceylon could be greatly assured during the Fourth Anglo-Dutch War. The Company governors were always extremely satisfied with him; he w as highly respected by all even in Kandy. In 1783 he declined the honour of becoming director-general; he was very sisappointed about the lack of support, exhausted and and suffered from a poor health. During twenty years he gave impetus to the construction of cinnamon gardens. Show less
Drift en koers (Passion and control) is the first scientific biography on the Dutch socialist, sociologist and feminist Hilda Verwey-Jonker (1908-2004). She is best known for the introduction of... Show moreDrift en koers (Passion and control) is the first scientific biography on the Dutch socialist, sociologist and feminist Hilda Verwey-Jonker (1908-2004). She is best known for the introduction of the word allochtonen (foreigner/alien) in the Dutch discourse and has very been influential in improving the (legal) status of especially married women. The questions her autobiography provoke were the starting point of my research. I present the results of my investigations into her lives as a passionate socialist, Protestant, intellectual, governor, expert in the field of refugee and migrant issues, ‘grey panther’ and mother of four children in fourteen chapters and fifty images. In the epilogue I present answers to the questions Verwey-Jonkers memoires raise and connect them with the notion that women are not supposed to fight in public. I thus present a new explanation for the very slow entry of women into Dutch parliamentary politics Show less
De Leidse hoogleraar theoretische fysica Paul Ehrenfest (1880-1933) was goed bevriend met Niels Bohr en Albert Einstein. In tegenstelling tot zijn beroemde tijdgenoten lag zijn kracht niet bij het... Show moreDe Leidse hoogleraar theoretische fysica Paul Ehrenfest (1880-1933) was goed bevriend met Niels Bohr en Albert Einstein. In tegenstelling tot zijn beroemde tijdgenoten lag zijn kracht niet bij het doen van grote ontdekkingen. Wel had hij een uitzonderlijk talent voor het verhelderen van complexe vraagstukken in de fysica. Het leven en werk van Ehrenfest biedt een intrigerend perspectief op de manier waarop wetenschappers uit dat tijdsgewricht hun weg probeerden te vinden in een periode van roerige wetenschappelijke, maatschappelijke en politieke ontwikkelingen. Behalve dat Ehrenfest een bloeiende onderzoeksschool opbouwde droeg hij ook bij aan de ontwikkeling en internationalisering van de Nederlandse natuurkunde, het universitaire onderwijs, en het ontstaan van een nieuw vakgebied __ de econometrie. Hij stimuleerde de ontwikkeling van de Russische en Amerikaanse theoretische fysica en versterkte de band tussen universiteit en industrie. Zijn tijdgenoten kenden Ehrenfest als een invloedrijk persoon die veel had bereikt. Tragisch is dat iedereen, behalve hij zelf, dat zag. Show less
Top Naeff (1878-1953) is in Nederland beroemd om haar meisjesboek School-Idyllen. Verder schreef ze romans en novellen. Minder bekend is dat ze een toonaangevend toneelcritica was.Dit proefschrift... Show moreTop Naeff (1878-1953) is in Nederland beroemd om haar meisjesboek School-Idyllen. Verder schreef ze romans en novellen. Minder bekend is dat ze een toonaangevend toneelcritica was.Dit proefschrift geeft niet alleen een beeld van Naeff als schrijfster van meisjesboeken en proza voor volwassenen, maar vooral van een vrouw met een hevige passie voor toneel, die streed voor de belangen van de acteur en regisseur Willem Royaards. De biografie beschrijft ook de geheime liefde van Naeff voor Royaards, en toont aan dat het overgrote deel van Naeffs romans en verhalen de literaire verwerking is van haar dubbelleven, haar frustraties en de uiteindelijke acceptatie van alle tekort. Daarmee biedt deze biografie, zoals een schrijversbiografie dient te doen, een verhelderend inzicht in het oeuvre van Top Naeff.Vrijwel alle vrouwelijke auteurs van het interbellum werden door met name de Forum-generatie denigrerend betiteld als auteurs van ‘damesromans’. De biografie nuanceert dit beeld wat Top Naeff betreft overtuigend; criticus Menno ter Braak had respect voor Naeff en haar werk en bewonderde naar ‘superieure ironie’.Deze biografie biedt veel nieuwe feiten en inzichten, een analytisch beeld van Naeff als toneelcritica, een positiebepaling in haar tijd, een verband tussen leven en werk en een nuancering waar het de beeldvorming in literaire handboeken en encyclopedieën betreft. Show less
Op 12 mei 2010, precies 300 jaar na zijn geboorte, verschijnt de biografie van de kleurrijke Utrechter Joan Gideon Loten (1710-1789), een achttiende-eeuwse VOC-dienaar en liefhebber van... Show moreOp 12 mei 2010, precies 300 jaar na zijn geboorte, verschijnt de biografie van de kleurrijke Utrechter Joan Gideon Loten (1710-1789), een achttiende-eeuwse VOC-dienaar en liefhebber van wetenschappen die na zijn terugkeer uit Oost-Indi_ twintig jaar in Londen woonde. Daar werd hij gekozen tot Fellow van de Royal Society (FRS) en Fellow van de Antiquaries of London (FSA). Loten geniet enige bekendheid vanwege zijn natuurhistorische collectie aquarellen die wordt bewaard in het Londense Natural History Museum, de British Library in Londen en Teylers Museum in Haarlem. Joan Gideon Loten overleed op 25 februari 1789 in Utrecht en werd begraven in de Jacobikerk. De Engelstalige biografie van Joan Gideon Loten, geschreven door Lex Raat, is een persoonlijk verhaal over zijn leven en loopbaan in Java, Celebes en Ceylon (1732-1758). Loten bracht een collectie natuurhistorische aquarellen bijeen waarop vogels, zoogdieren, insecten en planten uit Azië natuurgetrouw zijn weergegeven. Een deel van deze platen is opgenomen in de biografie. De collectie werd gebruikt door Engelse natuuronderzoekers, die de afbeeldingen kopieerden in hun boeken. Lotens verzameling is belangrijk als referentie voor een aanzienlijk aantal vogels van Ceylon en Java. De bekende Zweedse natuuronderzoeker Carolus Linnaeus noemde een Ceylonese zonnevogel naar Loten. In 1758 repatrieerde Loten als een vermogend man. Hij was zijn vaderstad Utrecht ont-groeid en vestigde zich in Londen, waar hij deel uitmaakte van de elite. In zijn dagboek schreef hij in die tijd uitvoerig over zijn astmatische klachten en de medicatie met opium, teerwater en andere opmerkelijke middelen. De laatste jaren van zijn leven woonde Loten in zijn huis aan de Drift in Utrecht. Daar maakte hij de patriotse onlusten mee, waarin zijn broer Arnout een rol speelde als orangistisch burgemeester van Utrecht. De biografie van Joan Gideon Loten, waarin Loten zelf uitvoerig aan het woord komt, geeft een goed beeld van het dagelijks leven in de achttiende eeuw in Utrecht, Oost-Indië en Engeland. Loten komt hierin naar voren als een toegewijd liefhebber en verzamelaar - een achttiende-eeuwse 'virtuoso'. Show less
The Wende results in two opposite effects: the university maintains its continuity and quickly starts to thrive in the newly unified German state, while the professional practice of most professors... Show moreThe Wende results in two opposite effects: the university maintains its continuity and quickly starts to thrive in the newly unified German state, while the professional practice of most professors suffers from discontinuity and a lack of connection to the new social circumstances. This antithesis, continuity for the university versus discontinuity for professorial practice, is the central theme. Relatively minor differences between biographies that had developed in the GDR op untill the Wende can be used to explain why the unification of Germany has widely divergent effects for the five hunderd professors of the Humboldt-Universit_t Show less
Jona Willem te Water (1740-1822), a professor at Leiden University, was a man of influence in the Dutch Reformed Church, in many learned societies, in academic theology, and in Dutch historiography... Show moreJona Willem te Water (1740-1822), a professor at Leiden University, was a man of influence in the Dutch Reformed Church, in many learned societies, in academic theology, and in Dutch historiography. He started his career as a Reformed minister in the province of Zeeland. His main historiographical work was a book on the history of the Dutch noblemen who had offered the petition to governess Margaret of Parma in 1566, requesting increased autonomy for their dominions, as well as freedom of religion. Throughout all his publications, Te Water chose the Orangists' side and showed a keen eye for the role of freedom and of Providence in Dutch history. In his theological publications, he favoured moderation in all things. He tenaciously clung to the teachings of the Reformed Church but did keep an open mind to any new theological developments. He attempted to show that the very use of the critical method of the so-called neologians could only lead to orthodox conclusions, if only it was applied objectively and carefully enough. As a member of several committees instituted to reform the organisational structure of the Dutch Reformed Church around 1810, Te Water invariably chose to conserve as much as possible. Show less
This research is about the representatives of the count of Holland and Zeeland in the Habsburg period (1483-1558).The questions which are addressed concern who the representatives of the count... Show moreThis research is about the representatives of the count of Holland and Zeeland in the Habsburg period (1483-1558).The questions which are addressed concern who the representatives of the count were, how they acquired their office, what their duties were and how they performed them, and what this meant for the relationship between the prince and his subjects. In a society which could not yet fully function with strict rules imposed by the centre, the officers played the role of brokers, smoothing the relations between prince and subjects through the use of informal means. The first half of the sixteenth century saw a stricter living by the rules, formalisation of procedures and the separation of the different spheres of influence, slowly carried out and sometimes reversed again in a complicated dance between prince, Council and States. During that process the foundations which held the relations between sovereign and subjects together, the possibilities of princely officers to act as intermediaries, were gradually eroded. Those foundations were needed more than ever in a time when taxes, trade impediments and the prosecution of heretics caused most feelings of resistance among the subjects. When William of Orange led the Revolt in 1568, the count lacked a group of Holland officials who could form a successful counterpoise. Show less
